The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.NASA was established in 1958, succeeding the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). The new agency was to have a distinctly civilian orientation, encouraging peaceful applications in space science. Since its establishment, most US space exploration efforts have been led by NASA, including the Apollo Moon landing missions, the Skylab space station, and later the Space Shuttle. NASA is supporting the International Space Station and is overseeing the development of the Orion spacecraft, the Space Launch System, and Commercial Crew vehicles. The agency is also responsible for the Launch Services Program, which provides oversight of launch operations and countdown management for uncrewed NASA launches.
NASA's science is focused on better understanding Earth through the Earth Observing System; advancing heliophysics through the efforts of the Science Mission Directorate's Heliophysics Research Program; exploring bodies throughout the Solar System with advanced robotic spacecraft such as New Horizons; and researching astrophysics topics, such as the Big Bang, through the Great Observatories and associated programs.
A video about the Boeing culture and the path to development, launching, and (finally) docking, the Starliner. At times a bit tedious but lots of info. 28 Minutes.
Cheers,
Tom
T.I.L. William Anders killed in a plane crash.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Anders
“In December 1968, Anders flew on the Apollo 8 mission, the first mission where humans traveled beyond low Earth orbit,[9] and the first crewed flight to reach and orbit the Moon.[21] When the...
The DSOC (deep-space optical communication) experiment on the Psyche spacecraft had a successful test (even though the test distance was mouse nuts, IMO)...
During the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon there at least two occasions when the crew indicate they are watching live TV broadcasts from Earth. We know they originate from Earth because they are live TV transmissions that were received by network TV and recorded on video that is available in the...
https://bigthink.com/hard-science/accidentally-killed-life-mars/
Interesting article about a type of life that might exist on Mars. It brings up questions on how do we test for the existence of life.
The Shuttle Columbia report details how NASA could have saved them with a risky plan
https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/02/the-audacious-rescue-plan-that-might-have-saved-space-shuttle-columbia-2/
New Class of Bimodal NTP/NEP with a Wave Rotor Topping Cycle Enabling Fast Transit to Mars
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/niac/2023/New_Class_of_Bimodal/
Ryan Gosse, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL...
Interesting optimization concept, to increase the size of the heat shield significantly to reduce the heat stresses during reentry...
https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/17/world/loftid-heat-shield-nasa-success-scn/index.html
Deadline April 18, 2022
Competition Eligibility at: https://www.drivendata.org/competitions/93/nasa-mars-spectrometry/rules/
HeroX Challenge page: https://www.herox.com/MarsSpectrometry
Brief article:
https://www.space.com/nasa-mars-habitable-herox-competition
Good Luck, and have Fun!
Tom
Maybe this is more general discussion, but I am excited / nervous about the upcoming launch of the JWST.
https://jwst.nasa.gov/content/webbLaunch/countdown.html
I can't wait to see the observations this endeavor will bring!
This discussion relates to another thread on the feasibility of operating a nuclear reactor on Venus.
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/could-a-high-very-high-temperature-nuclear-reactor-operate-in-venus.1003619/
Venus represents a hostile environment with a surface temperature of ~470°C...
https://www.change.org/p/nasa-nasa-name-toi-1338-in-honor-of-sophie
Copied from the petition text:
Sophie Xeon, known mononymously as SOPHIE, was a highly influential singer, songwriter, and producer who was a great inspiration to the LGBTQIA+ community. Her messages, actions, and music left...
Hi! I'm curious what your take on this is. I'm taking an introduction to U.S. Government course and my professor was discussing the inefficiencies of the public sector; the discussion on politics isn't relevant here but he did make an interesting point about space travel. He argued that the...
The following is a five-year-old post on one of NASA's websites.
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/04/evaluating-nasas-futuristic-em-drive/?fbclid=IwAR02ifoAVrPGa0StAxsTjIuS3b08fUOyMcPh1-nBjeiwgwWkI3H7jnA0Has
It exposes the holes in the state of affairs at that moment -- first, the article...
It's common knowledge that it takes about 3 days to get to the moon. With a Hohmann transfer, I get a transit time of 5 days, not 3. I see NASA used something called "trans-lunar injection". Is this distinct from a Hohmann transfer, and more time efficient? What makes this trajectory different...
Press release
The Concorde could only fly supersonic while over the open ocean - the sonic boom was too loud. NASA is looking for aircraft designs that are much quieter. While the X-59 itself isn't very practical for passenger transport it might have some direct military applications and help...
Does this violate conservation of momentum or some other law? It claims to take advantage relativistic mass increases to achieve propulsion
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20190029657.pdf
Is the main focus of the physics career discovery, leading invention for the engineers?
I mean in the hypothetical situation of the building of a rocket, would the physicist spend their time discovering new ways of making combustion or discovering new materials for a spaceship, and the...
NASA has proposed a mission to Alpha Centuri:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2069_Alpha_Centauri_mission
This mission would involve a spacecraft traveling at 10% of light speed and therefore relativistic effects could be somewhat significant.
Let's assume this spacecraft is carrying a...
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/features/supersonic-shockwave-interaction.html
“We never dreamt that it would be this clear, this beautiful.”
Physical Scientist J.T. Heineck of NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California gets his first glimpse at a set of long-awaited...
Yup. Newspapers have it. Again. Note the example "news" article with a very tiny disclaimer.
Here are wikipedia's take, some NASA information, and a news article. They are all links and therefore are transient and could change.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_LF16...
NASA is looking for a process to use CO2 as a Carbon source on Mars; ultimate goal is to use the Carbon in the synthesis of other products.
$50,000 prize.
Open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and U.S. business entities, work must be done in the U.S...
https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/06/nasas-priorities-appear-to-be-out-of-whack-with-what-the-public-wants/
Title:
NASA’s priorities appear to be out of whack with what the public wants
"The public thinks that we should have a space program that saves Earth."
In the list presented in the...
One idea for a moon base would be reinforced concrete domes, but is pouring concrete in a total vacuum even possible? Wouldn't the water just evaporate, or is there another material we could use instead of water? Are the ingredients of concrete plentiful on the moon, or could we synthesize them...
NASA decided to stop *WFIRST and concentrate on Mars project (send humans to Mars).
What do you think about it?
In my opinion, since a lot of ventures have begun space developments such as SpaceX and this proves that rockets make money, NASA should tackle WFIRST. Generally, we cannot earn...
NASA selected two finalists for the next round of the New Frontiers program, missions with a cost below $850 million. Both get funding to further refine the proposals, in early 2019 one of them will be selected.
CAESAR wants to go back to 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, previously visited by the...
News
A variety of targets will be looked at, including planets and moons within our solar system, various star systems and many galaxies from the early universe, where the high redshift and Hubble’s wavelength range made observations difficult.
For exoplanets, the strategy is to look at the...
this will blow your mind !
https://sservi.nasa.gov/articles/lroc-quickmap-try-it-out/
click on the blue colour "Quickmap" link in the first paragraphDave
I've been working on this passion project for a couple of years now and was wondering if you guys have any tips all I can say right now is.Its lunar capable,going to carry 8-10 crew and 2 landers or cargo,reusable,and easily modifiable for Earth orbit operations.
Hi,
Please could someone kindly explain how zero weightlessness is achieved in this aircraft. I have tried to use my own understanding and what I have read online.
My ideas are:
To experience weightlessness the plane must be in freefall so the only force acting on it must be gravity. Since...
Trying to figure out how many particles would bombard an astronaut during a solar proton event. Given that the most possible is around 43,000 particle flux units (pfu) according to NASA.
First calculating steradians, assuming a person is 1m^2, 1/(1E9)^2=1E-18.
My calculation yields (43000...
Hello those who are reading!
I have just graduated with my undergraduate Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering with a 3.4 GPA. I currently work for a large civil construction company as a field engineer. I have written and published a Children's book about engineering.
I am looking to start...
I am a former senior flight surgeon at CCAFS and Kennedy Space Center. I have been privileged to speak with many fantastic engineers, scientists, and astronauts. Many times they have had to stop a discussion to explain to me items of interest, and I am always interested in learning something I...
NASA Flight Tracking Station: The Guaymas Story - 1967 Educational Documentary
wdtvlive42 - Archive Footage
Published on Apr 10, 2017
This film provides a detailed description of the operations of NASA's (National Aeronautics and Space Administration's) manned flight tracking station in...